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A man’s best friend isn’t his dog– let’s be honest guys, it’s the microwave. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve traveled, leaving my fiancé home to fend for himself in the kitchen and hearing him justify his take-out orders with the same old excuse, “I can’t cook.” Well, that’s what the microwave is for guys! No, I’m not talking about TV dinners or personal pizzas– there are some healthy foods you can cook in your microwave, too! Whether you’re a rookie in the kitchen or in a rush to get to class check out these 8 foods fit for your microwave:

Eggs

Crack as many eggs as you’d like into a microwavable bowl and using a fork whisk the eggs until the yolks are broken. For fluffy scrambled eggs, add a little milk to the bowl or add shredded cheese to the bowl for cheesy eggs.

Microwave for 1 minute to start then heat in increments of 15-30 seconds until the eggs are no longer runny, unless your goal is runny then cook to your liking. My thought is you can always cook it longer, but you can’t reverse overcooking. Realize that some microwaves cook at a higher wattage so take that into consideration when choosing how long to cook your foods.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal isn’t just for your grandparents anymore…Perfect for breakfast or after a workout, oatmeal is low-maintenance and will leave you fill ing full and satisfied. Add frozen fruit, milk, honey, brown sugar, or syrup to your oats and water and microwave as prescribed.

Whole Potatoes

Wash and dry the potato to remove any dirt on the skin then poke holes using a fork into the top, bottom, and both sides of the potato. Wrap the potato in a moist towel and microwave according to size:

3 mins. for a small-sized potato

4.5 mins. for a medium-sized potato

6 mins. for a large-sized potato

7-8 mins. for a XL-sized potato

Double the time for more than one potato. For example, a pair of large potatoes should cook for 10-12 minutes.

Fish

Season fish first, if desired, then cover fish tightly with plastic wrap, wax paper, or paper towels. Experts recommend plastic wrap because it retains the most juice from the fish and prevents it from tasting too dry. Microwave on high 3 to 4 minutes.

Frozen Fruit

Do you have a sweet spot for cobbler? Try making fruit cobbler by microwaving frozen fruit in a bowl for 1.5-2 minutes. Growing up, my mom would freeze strawberries from our summer garden and then microwave them over shortbread or angel food cake. Trust me, it’s heavenly!

Pasta

Place pasta in a large microwavable and submerge in water so that the pasta sits about an inch below the water line. Place a plate under the bowl so that it catches any water that might overflow during the cooking. Cook the pasta uncovered as outlined on the box plus 2-3 minutes longer. For example, if your spaghetti requires 9-11 minutes of boiling then cook it for 11-14 in the microwave.

You can also microwave your sauce. Just be sure to cover the bowl with a towel to prevent splattering and cook for 30 seconds and increase in 15 second intervals as needed.

Bacon

Layer several paper towels on a microwavable dish or plate (Pyrex is best) and then place up to 6 strips of raw bacon on top of the paper towels. Place another layer of several paper towels over the bacon and place in the microwave for 3 minutes or 90-seconds per piece. Once cooked to your desired crispness, remove the bacon and place it on a new paper towel to soak up grease and fat.

Hot dogs

Roll each hot dog up individually in a paper towel. Tuck the ends under and then place in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Remove and enjoy sliced up or on a bun. It’s that easy!

So, guys (& gals) no more excuses! Put down the PB & J– and pop these foods and many more into your microwave! Bon appetite!